Over the last few posts we have been looking at the “foreshadowing” of Jesus in the lives and events of people in the Old Testament. When we actually see the many pictures that God gave us, fulfilled in Jesus, we grow closer in our understanding of His overarching purpose and plan. This knowledge actually makes Bible study exciting as we look for these pictures and their fulfillment.
We are privileged to be on this side of the Old Testament because in the New Testament Jesus promised more to come for those who believe in Him. Some examples of those promises include: His second coming to rule and reign over all of creation; an end to evil and suffering; and an eternal home that He has prepared especially for us.
One of the most prominent events in Exodus that foreshadows Jesus is the Passover. We Jesus see pictured here in several ways: He is the unblemished lamb sacrificed on our behalf; His blood was shed for us, and covers us, so that death would “passover” us; He is the “firstborn” of the dead, sanctified by God.
Watch this short clip on “Passover, A Foreshadow of Jesus:”
Bible Study Focus Points:
Read Exodus 11-15
- The Passover (Exodus 11:1-8; 12:1-30; 12:43-13:16)
- The last, but most significant plague that occurred in Exodus is the death of the firstborn – the Passover. Egyptians worship their firstborn and especially Pharaoh’s because he would be the next in line for the kingdom. It also included the firstborn of all the livestock and could be at any age, not just young children.
- Notice the importance of the firstborn: In Exodus 13:2 God says to Moses “Sanctify to Me every first born, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”
- This is the beginning of sanctifying the firstborn for the LORD. We will see it as the guideline for service to the LORD in the future, exampled in the stories of Sampson, Samuel and John the Baptist. Jesus will be the firstborn and will be sanctified in the Temple by Joseph and Mary (Anna and Simeon will pray and prophecy over Him) and He will be in service to the LORD for his three year ministry.
- The point of shedding blood is so important: Blood is where the life is (today we know it is where the DNA is!). Adam and Eve were told that if they ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. The only way we can be redeemed is by the shedding of the blood of an innocent: Jesus ultimately, but the representation of that would be in the purity of the sacrificial lamb required here at Passover.
- Note: The Passover happened in the same month, at the same time, as the crucifixion would occur (because Passover was being celebrated).
- Also note: Numbers 9:12 says that when they eat of the Passover they cannot break any of its bones. This is also fulfilled in Christ and prophesied in Zechariah 12:10.
- The Exodus (12:31-42; 13:17-14:31)
- Exodus 12:40-41 is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Genesis 15:13-14 that God gave to Abraham: the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But afterward they will come out with great possessions.” (Most scholars say that what the Israelites received from the Egyptians was ‘back-wages’ for their time in slavery).
- The miraculous parting of the Red Sea – location is still part of a debate today, but the fact that it happened is not.
For evidence on a probable location check out the documentary “The Exodus Revealed: Searching for the Red Sea Crossing.”
- Exodus 13:19—they take Joseph’s bones as he requested (see end of Genesis chapter 50).
- Notice the rebelliousness and grumbling of the people (14:10-12). This will increase all throughout their time in the desert under Moses. They will complain a total of ten times and God does not let this generation into the Promised Land.
- 15:1-21 is the first time we see Hebrew poetry (the songs of Moses and Miriam) – A praise and review of what God has done for them (similar to what we find in Psalms and Proverbs). Hebrew poetry usually consists of parallelisms (contrasts and specific repetitions).
Bible Study Review:
- What did the LORD require the people of Israel to do in order to be “passed over” as He executed judgment on the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast? (12:1-13) What feast is celebrated as a memorial?
- How does the “Passover” event foreshadow Jesus? What are some examples of typologies we see in the things required by God for the Passover?
- What did Moses take with them when the people left the land of Egypt? (13:19) Cross-reference with Genesis 50:24-25—what had Joseph promised and asked?
- How did the LORD go before them as they made their exodus out of Egypt? (13:20-22) Recount the Red Sea Crossing and how the LORD rescued Israel from the Egyptians—try to include specific details important to the story. (14:1-31)
- What did the people of Israel do almost immediately after they had left the Red Sea and how did the LORD respond? (15:22-17:7) How many different things did they grumble about?
Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament” with a focus on Jesus and the Mosaic Law!
——————————————————————————————
You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.